Top National Shooters Square Off For 2007 Hardy Invitational
Event Boasts Richest Purse in Sporting Clays
FARMINGTON, PA (June 28, 2007) - The country’s top sporting clays shooters will converge on the Shooting Academy at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort July 7th and 8th for the Joe Hardy Invitational. The event offers a $20,000 purse, the richest for a single day one round event in the history of Sporting Clays. The Highest Overall shooter will collect $10,000; second place receives $3,000; and third place $2,000, with the remaining shorts who complete the event receiving $500 each.
The two day event begins Saturday, July 7th, with a Pro Am as five-man amateur teams join a Sporting Clays Pro on the top-rated Shooting Academy course. The top five scoring amateur shooters from the Pro Am will get to compete in the main event on Sunday and have the chance to win one of the cash payouts.
Also on Saturday, Woodlands World Outdoor Store will be on-site offering demonstrations of the latest archery, hunting, and fishing equipment and products. There will also be free carnival games for children as well as a free kids’ fishing tournament and Wild World of Animals Show. All of the events begin at 10:00 a.m. A Bar-B-Q will also be available at 4:00 p.m. at the Shooting Academy Pavilion where guests can enjoy a trick shooting demonstration while enjoying dinner. Bar-B-Q tickets will be available for purchase the day of the event.
“This is truly a rare opportunity for fans of the shooting sports and those interested in learning more about sporting clays to see some of the best professionals in the world compete against one another on a great course and in an extremely competitive event,” said Michael Mohr, Shooting Academy Director and National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) Level 3 Instructor. “Many of the shooters who participated last year and I expect another evenly matched event that could easily come down to the final shot.”
The Sporting Clays pros scheduled to compete:
- Will Fennell – 2004 World Compak Sporting Team Gold medal; 2004 UK/US Masters FITASC Champion; 2003 International Sporting Classic Champion.
- Tom Mack – 2004 Wisconsin State Champion; three time Big Kahuna Champion; two time Michigan State Champion.
- Pat Lieske – 11 time All American team member; five time Team USA member; eight time Michigan State Champion.
- Jon Kruger – Sporting Clays National Champion; World Champion; First inductee into National Sporting Clays Hall of Fame; Sporting Clays all-time money winner.
- Anthony Matarese, Jr. – 10 time All American; four time New Jersey State Champion; three time Master’s Cup Champion; 2004 National FITASC Champ
- Joe Carey – 2004 National Champion
- Gary Greenway – Three time Texas State Champion; 10 time sporting All American; Zone Champ; NSCA Chief Instructor
- Andy Duffy – 13 time Al American; three time National Champion; 2005 inductee NSCA Hall of Fame.
- Cory Kruse – National Champion and member of Team USA.
- Joe Zeitler – Four time Pennsylvania State Champion; Three time Hardy Classic Champion; Homestead Cup Champion.
- Gary Phillips – World English; British Open Champion; U.S. Open Champion; seven time England Team Captain.
Master of Ceremonies will be Gil Ash of OSP Shooting School and world renowned shooting instructor.
The Saturday Pro Am and Sunday main event are open to the public. There is no admission or parking charge. Eye and ear protection for spectators will be provided free of charge. Concessions will be available at the Shooting Academy Lodge both days.
Spectators will be permitted to walk the scenic one-mile course and follow their favorite pros throughout the competition on both days, or they may bring chairs or blankets and sit near the five-stand next to the Shooting Academy Lodge.
The schedule of events is as follows:
Saturday, July 7
- 10:00 a.m. Woodlands World Demonstrations, Free activities for kids
- 11:00 a.m. Pro Am begins
- 4:00 p.m. Bar-B-Q, scores and awards
- Top Five amateurs announced
- Professional shooters conduct trick shooting demonstration
- 5:00 p.m. Wild World of Animals Show
Sunday, July 8 – Joe Hardy Invitational
- 10:00 a.m. Main event begins
- 2:00 p.m. (approximate) awards presented
The Shooting Academy is located 4.5 miles east of the main Nemacolin Woodlands Resort property on Route 40 on Pike School Road. Directional signage will be placed along Route 40.
The 140-acre complex features two courses with 15 shooting stations each, three European pheasant flush fields, three towers and fun stations, and two “five-stand” pavilions. Sporting Clays Magazine has named the Shooting Academy as “one of the finest facilities in the country.”
With the help of our NSCA certified instructors, even first-time shooters are guaranteed to break targets. Sporting Clay shooting is a sport the whole family can enjoy, and the course can be tailored to challenge everyone from the most seasoned professional to the first-time shooter. All clays are biodegradable and do not harm the environment.
Shooters are accompanied by an NSCA certified instructor and travel station-to-station throughout the all-weather course along a one-mile cart path.